Eight ways to support local without breaking the bank this holiday season.
The pandemic altered a lot of our everyday habits. One of the most affected was shopping. Ordering online to fulfill our grocery, household, and gift needs became second nature. But although the world reopened years ago, in-store shopping has still decreased, and local businesses need our support to survive.
But how can you buy from local companies without your bank account, and your sanity, taking a major hit? We’ve rounded up some tips to help you shop local and smart.
Try Bukit
Bukit.com is an e-commerce site much like a small-scale Amazon, but it specifically draws on Reno-based businesses. Instead of shopping the global marketplace, consumers can place orders for everything from school supplies to home goods, all from local purveyors. Partners include Mother of Macros, Battle Born Beekinis, Grassroots Books, Mandala Massage Supply & Apothecary, Coffeebar, Dorinda’s Chocolates, and many more. The best part? Your order is delivered right to your door.
Buy in bulk
Buying services ahead of time in larger quantities — for example, with a punch card — can come with discounts. For example, you can enjoy savings on workout classes by buying packages of classes in advance. The Mill Barre + Pilates, Juice Box Yoga, and Pure Barre all offer bulk-buying options that can help you save money on a great gift. Subscriptions (such as one to edible Reno-Tahoe!) also help you save on individual issues, too, and the gift goes right to the recipient’s door.
Make a habit of happy hour
Inflation caused spikes in local food costs, making dining out more expensive than it was in 2019. However, many Northern Nevada restaurants offer happy hours with reduced prices on food and beverage favorites. Treat a loved one to a more-affordable holiday celebration! Some suggestions? The Fox Brewery & Pub in Carson City and Reno, The Pink House in Genoa, Overland Restaurant & Pub in Gardnerville, and The Twisted Fork in Reno.
Save a dollar, save the environment
Holding on to used toiletry bottles could be the key to saving money, and not because you’re going to recycle them for five cents each. At The Waste Less Shop in The Village at Rancharrah, shoppers can grab non-toxic, refillable cleaning and self-care products and locally made gifts. The former is sold by the ounce, and you can reuse your containers from home to save money on bottles.
Become a member
Being a member has its perks. Everything from car washes to jump-park passes suddenly become less expensive when you do them a lot. Urban Air Adventure & Trampoline Park and DEFY Sparks, for example, both offer monthly memberships and seasonal passes. Those with children also may be tempted to buy seasonal or annual passes or memberships to Wild Island, Roller Kingdom, the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum in Reno, and the Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada and Nevada State Museum in Carson City. For winter sports, 2023-2024 season passes for skiing at Tahoe and beyond are on sale. Consider a Tahoe Local Pass for the best deals at Heavenly, Northstar California, and Kirkwood.
Give a gift certificate
While many goods can be purchased online, services aren’t the same. Give the gift of an experience this holiday season with a gift certificate to a local spa, rental shop, local tour, cooking class (see “Enhance Your Kitchen Skills” story in this issue), movie theater, restaurant, and more.
Some even offer holiday specials, so you get a greater dollar value than what you pay. This is a fantastic option that lets you support a small, local business, even if you aren’t quite sure what the recipient would like or when the person is available for an experience.
Shop local gift baskets
Biggest Little Baskets specializes in small-batch, ethically sourced products, helping you curate a basket custom-fit to your recipient’s wants and needs. The best part? The business is headquartered in Reno. Or give the gift of food by sending Tahoe Toffee Candy Co. goodies at Muffin Gifts (from My Favorite Muffin in Reno and Sparks) to your favorite people. Local florists, such as Galena Forest Flowers and Sparks Florist, also offer a variety of gift options.
Buy on Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Small Business Saturday
Many local businesses offer sales on these days — not just the big-box stores. Go out shopping or even look at local websites to save money on holidays gifts or treats for yourself.
RESOURCES
Biggest Little Baskets Biggestlittlebaskets.com
Bukit Bukit.com
Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada
813 N. Carson St., Carson City
775-884-2226 • Cmnn.org
DEFY Sparks
1330 Scheels Drive, Ste. 250, Sparks
775-624-9989 • Defy.com
Juice Box Yoga (multiple locations) Yogajuicebox.com
My Favorite Muffin
340 California Ave., Reno
775-333-1025 • Myfavoritemuffin.com
2868 Vista Blvd., Sparks
775-351-2868
Nevada State Museum
600 N. Carson St., Carson City
775-687-4810 • Carsonnvmuseum.org
Overland Restaurant & Pub
1451 Hwy. 395, Gardnerville
775-392-1369 • Overland-restaurant.com
Pure Barre (multiple locations) Purebarre.com
Roller Kingdom
515 E. Seventh St., Reno
775-329-3472 • Rollerkingdom.org
Tahoe Local Pass
Epicpass.com/passes/tahoe-local-pass.aspx
Tahoe Toffee Candy Co. Tahoetoffee.com
Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum
490 S. Center St., Reno
775-786-1000 • Nvdm.org
The Fox Brewery & Pub (Carson City and Reno) Foxpubs.com
The Mill Barre + Pilates
300 S. Wells Ave., Ste. 2, Reno
775-335-5643 • Themillpilates.com
The Pink House
193 Genoa Lane, Genoa
775-392-4279 • Thepinkhousegenoa.com
The Twisted Fork
1191 Steamboat Pkwy., Reno
775-853-6033 • Twistedforkreno.com
The Waste Less Shop
7300 Rancharrah Pkwy., Ste. 120, Reno
775-225-1045 • Thewastelessshop.com
Urban Air Adventure Park and Trampoline
2210 Harvard Way, Reno
775-300-7607 • Urbanair.com
Wild Island Family Adventure Park
250 Wild Island Court, Sparks
775-359-2927 • Wildisland.com
Xperience Days Xperiencedays.com
